Read Online By Fire and by Sword by Elaine Coffman - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Elaine Coffman
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had murdered before. He would not hesitate to do so again.
She had trouble sleeping after that day, and her family thought it would be good for her to take a trip to the Continent. It was Sophie who suggested that Kenna go to France, for Sophie had many friends and relatives there that she could rely on.
Everyone agreed that France would be the perfect place, especially since French was a language Kenna spoke with fluency. Sophie did her part by writing letters of introduction to several prominent friends, and supplied Kenna with a list of people she might find helpful. One of those was Madame Guion, and the other was the Comte Debouvine, who, according to Sophie, was the best fencing master not only in France, but all of Europe.
But Kenna never went to France. She changed her mind about going, and the trip was forgotten, along with the packet of introductions and lists Sophie had given her.
“Why, Kenna?” Claire had asked. “You were so looking forward to this trip.”
“I know, but now I feel different. I think to go would be running away. I feel very strongly that I should stay here and face the devils that rob me of my peace. If I go to France, I think it highly likely that those same ghosts will still be waiting for me here, when I return.”
No one questioned her change of heart, and the subject was never broached again.
Things were different now. Lord Walter was out of prison and looking for her, and that made her decide for the second time in her life to go to France.
Only this time she followed through.
This time things were different.
She was not running away from ghosts. She was going on a journey to perfect herself, to train and to learn, until such time she felt confident to face her enemy.
Fortunately, she had kept the letters Sophie had written for her, which had been lying in the bottom of her trunk. The night before she left home, she tossed back its lid and threw the contents in five different directions, looking for the letters at the bottom.
She removed the small metal box and unlocked it. Inside, she found Sophie’s packet of notes and introductions. It was all here—the names of friends and relatives, places she should visit and the letters of introduction.
She tucked the package into her traveling case along with only essential clothes she would take to France—two extra gowns and a riding suit. She could not risk taking the trunk, for it would draw more attention to her and be cumbersome to travel with.
And now, she was here, in Paris, and on her way to the address Sophie had given her for Madame Guion.
Six
But words are words; I never yet did hear
That the bruis’d heart was pierced
through the ear.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616),
English poet and playwright.
Othello (1602-1604), Act I, Scene 3.
M adame Jeanne-Marie Guion was a most agreeable lady who insisted she would never charge the sister-in-law of Sophie de Bourbon more than three guineas a month.
She had opened her home to a select few since her husband died, and prided herself on both her home and the quality of the people who stayed there.
Her son and two maiden sisters shared the large house, which was well furnished, with four bedchambers on the first floor, a large parlor below, a kitchen and “should you ever have the need, you are welcome to use the cellar.”
Madame Guion also took care to warn Sophie abouther son, Jean-Claude. “ La! He is a handsome enough young man of five and twenty years. He is good-natured and quite obliging, although in possession of a goodly amount of vanity. However, his one downfall is women…especially beautiful ones, and therefore you are at risk. He is a bit of a libertine, mademoiselle , so be on your guard.”
Sophie had already warned Kenna about Frenchmen, and how their vanity was the ruling passion of the most volatile of them. Kenna was actually looking forward to his returning home, so she could see just what Sophie meant by volatile men whose vanity was
She had trouble sleeping after that day, and her family thought it would be good for her to take a trip to the Continent. It was Sophie who suggested that Kenna go to France, for Sophie had many friends and relatives there that she could rely on.
Everyone agreed that France would be the perfect place, especially since French was a language Kenna spoke with fluency. Sophie did her part by writing letters of introduction to several prominent friends, and supplied Kenna with a list of people she might find helpful. One of those was Madame Guion, and the other was the Comte Debouvine, who, according to Sophie, was the best fencing master not only in France, but all of Europe.
But Kenna never went to France. She changed her mind about going, and the trip was forgotten, along with the packet of introductions and lists Sophie had given her.
“Why, Kenna?” Claire had asked. “You were so looking forward to this trip.”
“I know, but now I feel different. I think to go would be running away. I feel very strongly that I should stay here and face the devils that rob me of my peace. If I go to France, I think it highly likely that those same ghosts will still be waiting for me here, when I return.”
No one questioned her change of heart, and the subject was never broached again.
Things were different now. Lord Walter was out of prison and looking for her, and that made her decide for the second time in her life to go to France.
Only this time she followed through.
This time things were different.
She was not running away from ghosts. She was going on a journey to perfect herself, to train and to learn, until such time she felt confident to face her enemy.
Fortunately, she had kept the letters Sophie had written for her, which had been lying in the bottom of her trunk. The night before she left home, she tossed back its lid and threw the contents in five different directions, looking for the letters at the bottom.
She removed the small metal box and unlocked it. Inside, she found Sophie’s packet of notes and introductions. It was all here—the names of friends and relatives, places she should visit and the letters of introduction.
She tucked the package into her traveling case along with only essential clothes she would take to France—two extra gowns and a riding suit. She could not risk taking the trunk, for it would draw more attention to her and be cumbersome to travel with.
And now, she was here, in Paris, and on her way to the address Sophie had given her for Madame Guion.
Six
But words are words; I never yet did hear
That the bruis’d heart was pierced
through the ear.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616),
English poet and playwright.
Othello (1602-1604), Act I, Scene 3.
M adame Jeanne-Marie Guion was a most agreeable lady who insisted she would never charge the sister-in-law of Sophie de Bourbon more than three guineas a month.
She had opened her home to a select few since her husband died, and prided herself on both her home and the quality of the people who stayed there.
Her son and two maiden sisters shared the large house, which was well furnished, with four bedchambers on the first floor, a large parlor below, a kitchen and “should you ever have the need, you are welcome to use the cellar.”
Madame Guion also took care to warn Sophie abouther son, Jean-Claude. “ La! He is a handsome enough young man of five and twenty years. He is good-natured and quite obliging, although in possession of a goodly amount of vanity. However, his one downfall is women…especially beautiful ones, and therefore you are at risk. He is a bit of a libertine, mademoiselle , so be on your guard.”
Sophie had already warned Kenna about Frenchmen, and how their vanity was the ruling passion of the most volatile of them. Kenna was actually looking forward to his returning home, so she could see just what Sophie meant by volatile men whose vanity was
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